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The Communication Workers of America have produced the attached brochure explaining the benefits of broadband internet access for the economy, for the environment, for education, for health care and for society in general. This is part of the CWA's Speed Matters campaign http://www.speedmatters.org/



Unions and others all around the world are advocating for the development of high-speed broadband internet access to promote social and economic development. Dr Hamadoun Touré, Secretary-General of the International Telecommunications Union says



"In the 21st century, affordable broadband access to the Internet is becoming as vital to social and economic development as networks like transport, water and power.”



In Australia, the UK, Japan and various other parts of the world, governments are considering or implementing plans to build state-of-the-art infrastructure to put their economies and societies at the forefront of technological development. The Australian government's plans for a National Broadband Network which will serve 90% of Australia's population present great opportunities for job growth and social development. In the UK, the Digital Britain proposals provide similar possibilities. However, the trade union voice is essential in the debates around these developments as we see in Australia, the government failing to use the NBN development to promote quality job creation and favouring outsourcing. In the UK, political pressure is leading the government to back down on some of its proposals.



In the USA, CWA is leading the call for broadband development which will benefit workers in the telecom sector, as well as the broader community.



At UNI Telecom's annual meeting next week, unions will report on these important developments around the world and their roles in those developments.